On Friday, the Portland Thorns announced that interim head coach Rob Gale would remain and serve as the team’s newest head coach.
Gale has been the team’s interim head coach since April when the Thorns underwent a restructuring that elevated former coach Mike Norris into a new role. At the time, the team told The Athletic they would conduct a global search to fill the vacancy. Turns out their preferred candidate was in Oregon all along.
In a statement announcing the appointment, Gale said he was “very proud, honored and humbled” to have been selected as the Thorns’ permanent head coach.
“I would like to thank the Bhathal family for their faith in me, as well as all the staff who in such a short space of time have worked so tirelessly to create history together,” he said. “They have not only welcomed me over this past year but helped my family and me through some tough times personally.”
Gale first stepped into the role on an interim basis in April, when Norris was promoted to serve as the club’s first technical director. The team’s restructuring followed the Thorns’ worst start ever in the NWSL. They were in last place with a 0-1-3 record through the first four weeks of the season.
New boss by the numbers 🔢
• 8️⃣-2️⃣-2️⃣ since taking…
